One Blood Test Can Now Diagnose Celiac Disease without Biopsy

Am I missing something here?----there is nothing new here at all----this is the same TTg-antibody test that has been used to diagnose celiac disease for the last several years with the same known sensitivity and specificity---this is no new discovery or information at all---the AGA has been aware of these data and still recommends a small bowel biopsy to confirm diagnosis. It just looks like because of the large backlog of endoscopy due to the pandemic on top of their already backed up procedural schedules because of their medical system, they have essentially been forced to "modify" their criteria for diagnosing celiac disease and simply omitting the already long delayed endoscopy---and essentially adopting the same criteria they use for the pediatric patient----the >10x the upper limit of normal---as the threshold for diagnosis----although it is not specifically mentioned in the summary, I wonder if the other criteria must be present as well---i.e.---positive symptoms, positive EMA, and compatible genotype.  the AGA does not recognize the British pediatric criteria as yet and I am sure will not adopt this modified criterion either---not without more follow-up data. 

On 9/28/2020 at 8:39 PM, cyclinglady said:

There is no special celiac antibodies test — just the usual ones offered.  The article just states that if your celiac antibody results are very high, you can probably skip the endoscopy.  Ask your doctor to get tested.  

This is nothing new---this is exactly the same test that has been used to diagnose celiac disease for the last 10years---it seems to me the British have decided because their endoscopy schedules(already long delayed due to their medical system) are now because of Covid-19 probably so far back-logged they are just going to do without the endoscopy and feel the data is adequate to support their decision---they had already done this with their pediatric patients.

On 9/28/2020 at 4:56 PM, Guest Kansas said:

Okay, but how do I get this blood test?? Is it available in the US yet?

This is the standard test used in the US to diagnose celiac disease for the last 10 years-nothing new, nothing different---apparently the British GI-endoscopy schedules have been overwhelmed by Covid-19 and they have decided to take a bit of a "short-cut" for diagnosis and apparently feel their data justifies this---unlikely the US will feel the same way---at least not until more data is available.

This is a VERY DECEIVING headline---if you actually read the entire summary in the DAILY MAIL you will clearly see this is just "A TEMPORARY" maneuver by the British GI society in attempt to help take some pressure off an overwhelmed endoscopy system due to the pandemic---they are simply just going to rely on a markedly elevated TTg to diagnose celiac disease and forego the endoscopy---FOR NOW---presumably until their endoscopy schedules "catch up"---whenever that will be---their endoscopy schedules are normally backed up because of their medical system--even without the pandemic.  At that time they will review the data and decide how to proceed.  This is the same TTg test that has been used for the last 10 tears or more to diagnose celiac disease---it is not a new or different test! I think the pandemic has essentially forced them to take a "little short-cut" here!  Do not look for this to happen in the US in the near future 

Scott, I think you could have done a much better job in editorializing this article---the title of the article is entirely deceptive----to borrow a political term---this is "fake news'----obviously there is nothing new about the TTG, and as you read the summary in the linked DAILY MAIL it is clear that this is, as is stated, "a temporary" measure forced by the back-log of endoscopy due to Covid-19   To say that " researchers have developed a single blood test to diagnose celiac disease without a biopsy" is clearly misleading -in regard to the TTg which has been the recommended blood test for celiac disease for at least 10 years--in conjunction with a small bowel biopsy--- and to term this "a game changer" is just wrong---even the authors of the article raise questions about it and after admitting it is just a temporary measure say the data will need to be reviewed in the future---i.e. if and when their endoscopy schedules return to a "new" normal! This is a British policy change ONLY and will not impact any other celiac patients at this time---I think you could have made this much clearer---certainly if you look at the questions

12 hours ago, Guest Happy camper said:

Are celiacs at more risk if they contract COVID?

Diagnosed and treated celiac disease patients are at no greater risk than the general population.  There are exceptions.  For example, if you have celiac disease and are 80 years old, you may be at greater risk of dying from COVID.    

On 9/29/2020 at 12:12 AM, sc'Que? said:

Will it still work if you are already following a strict gluten-free diet?  

All celiac disease testing requires you to be on a full gluten diet.  

12 hours ago, Guest Happy camper said:

I have silent celiac, which makes it harder to not eat gluten. Wondering how bad is it to still eat some gluten, should I be worried?

Yes, you should be worried.  Even if asymptomatic, consuming gluten will damage your gut.  Ask your doctor for follow-up testing to determine if you are adhering to the diet.  

On 9/30/2020 at 3:50 PM, cyclinglady said:

Yes, you should be worried.  Even if asymptomatic, consuming gluten will damage your gut.  Ask your doctor for follow-up testing to determine if you are adhering to the diet.  

Cycling Lady, based on your questions you do not seem to have a good understanding of Celiac disease; I hope you have a gastroenterologist to whom you can refer your questions---if not you should!

1 hour ago, Guest ANTHONY COLATRELLA said:

Cycling Lady, based on your questions you do not seem to have a good understanding of Celiac disease; I hope you have a gastroenterologist to whom you can refer your questions---if not you should!

what questions are you referring to and are attributing to cyclinglady?  

On 10/2/2020 at 5:08 PM, notme! said:

what questions are you referring to and are attributing to cyclinglady?  

Sorry, my mistake---hard to determine who is asking what question!

On 9/24/2020 at 4:11 PM, cyclinglady said:

Ah, but....

”Those with antibody levels lower than ten times the normal range will still require an endoscopy before the diagnosis can be confirmed.”

An endoscopy is still valuable per the referenced article.  
 

A biopsy would still be needed for 5% of people per the article, and the standard tTG test is 95% accurate in diagnosing celiac disease--thus 95% of people can avoid biopsy. That is a great thing! Who wants to undergo a risky procedure that could give them an infection or subject them to a risk from the anesthesia?